DOCSLIB.ORG

Lee Evans Profile

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lee Evans Profile Lee Evans Profile: 400m 20-Year World Record Holder to Attend the 2015 Golden West Invitational’s “Olympic Day” Celebration By Bob Burns Lee Evans was the first man to break 44 seconds in the 400-meter dash, a symmetrical barrier requiring a sprinter to average less than 11 seconds for four consecutive 100 meters. That alone is enough to cement his place in track history. His 43.86 clocking lasted 20 years as the world record and still places Evans among the eight fastest performers in history 47 years later. Accomplishing the feat on the sport’s biggest stage, the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, while facing down furious challenges on and off the track, gives his gold medal additional luster. Lee Evans 2008 Astrid Barros photo Less known is the road Evans took to Mexico City, a journey that circled Northern California tracks for three and a half intense months in 1968. It started in June with a national collegiate title in Berkeley, continued with a victory at the AAU Championships in Sacramento, and reached even greater heights during the Final Olympic Trials at Echo Summit a few miles west of Lake Tahoe. At each Northern California stop, Evans, the world’s top one-lap sprinter in 1966 and 1967, outraced Villanova sophomore Larry James, a silky-smooth runner who had emerged as his most dangerous challenger. Those three championship races forged one 1966: Lee Evans set his first 400m WR on battle-tested quarter-miler heading to the U.S. 4x400m Relay team at the USA- Mexico City. USSR Games. Jeff Kroot photo Those three championship races forged one battle-tested quarter-miler heading to Mexico City. “I was determined not to let Larry James beat me,” said Evans, now 68 and living in Castro Valley. “I knew I had to win those three races if I wanted to be in the Olympic Games.” Evans will return to the Highway 50 corridor that figured so prominently in his career on June 13 when he attends the Golden West Invitational in Folsom as part of the United States Olympic Committee’s “Olympic Day” celebration. While he claimed just about every honor available in a Hall of Fame career, Evans never competed in the Golden West Invitational. After clocking 46.9 for 440 yards in his senior season at San Jose’s Overfelt High School, an untimely leg injury prevented Evans from racing in the California state meet and Golden West Invitational. In Evans’ absence, Ron Freeman won the 440-yard dash at the 1965 GWI in 46.8 seconds. Three years later, Evans and Freeman later shared the baton on the U.S. 4 x 400 relay foursome that shattered the world record by nearly four seconds in Mexico City. “By missing out on the state meet and the Golden West, people didn’t know how fast I could run,” Evans said. “I think that’s why I surprised so many people in 1966.” Evans improved to 45.2 in 1966 and won the first of five AAU championships. His trip to New York for the national meet marked the first time he had traveled beyond California or boarded an airplane. “That was quite an experience,” Evans said. “After the AAU, I raced all over Europe and had the time of my life.” In 1967, Evans again ranked No. 1 in the world, though he did lose to Tommie Smith’s world record of 44.5 in their only head-to-head battle. Smith focused exclusively on the 200 meters in the Olympic year of 1968. Meanwhile, James emerged a continent away as a viable contender for the Olympic gold medal. \James set a world indoor record in winning the 1968 NCAA indoor title and clocked a 43.9 split at the Penn Relays, the fastest 440-yard relay leg in history. Evans first saw James run at the 1968 Millrose Games, where Evans won the indoor 600- yard run while James won the 500. “I knew Larry was going to be one of my main rivals for the gold medal,” Evans said. “I remember admiring him – a handsome guy with a beautiful stride. I told myself, ‘I’ve got to stop admiring him. I’ve got to beat him.’” Evans, Smith, Ronnie Ray Smith and John Carlos were the anchors of the “Speed City” group that trained at San Jose State under legendary coach Bud Winter. Joining them on the San Jose State campus was a firebrand of a sociology professor named Harry Edwards. Evans and Smith were the most prominent supporters of the Edwards-led Olympic Project for Human Rights. Stories circulated throughout late 1967 and the first half of 1968 that the Speed City sprinters were strongly considering an Olympic boycott to protest racial injustice in America. Evans and Smith were subjected to death threats in the months leading up to Mexico City. “You’re always scared when someone threatens your life,” Evans said. “They gave us a time that they were going to shoot us. In hindsight, they were probably just trying to scare us, but we didn’t know that at the time.” Evans responded to the pressure by putting his head down and training harder than ever. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Berkeley in mid-June, Evans clocked a meet- record 45.0 for 400 meters to finish four-tenths of a second in front of James. Evans handled James again later that month at the AAU Championships in Sacramento. After beating James yet again at the Semi Olympic Trials in Los Angeles, it was on to Echo Summit for the Final Olympic Trials in September. No one knew how fast America’s top sprinters could run with the reduced air resistance of the site’s 7,377-foot elevation, but they were about to find out. In a pre-Trials race at Echo Summit, Vince Matthews clocked 44.4 to shatter the 400- meter world record. Evans ran 1:14.3 in the infrequently run 600 meters, a time that wouldn’t be surpassed until 1984. The Trials 400 final on Sept. 14 was out of this world. Matthews set a suicidal pace, clocking 20.7 at the halfway point. As the leaders emerged from behind the Ponderosa pine set inside the track, Evans and James were neck and neck. Evans crossed the finish line in 44.06, and James was well inside the previous world record in second (44.19). James actually received credit for the world record since Evans was wearing “brush” spikes on his Puma shoes that prevented his time being accepted as an official world record. Carlos was denied a world record in the 200 for the same reason. Statisticians have always regarded their Echo Summit times as legitimate. Evans, Smith and the other black Olympians decided against boycotting Mexico City, vaguely speaking of personalized protests. When Smith and Carlos were evicted from the Olympic Village following their raised-fist salutes while accepting their medals for the 200 meters, the spotlight shifted to Evans. Given his outspokenness, what would he do on the victory stand? First he had to get there, and Evans almost didn’t bother. Deeply upset by the Smith- Carlos imbroglio, Evans considered withdrawing from the 400 in support of his teammates. They urged him to run, and Evans earned the top spot on the awards stand by defeating James in an epic duel, 43.86 to 43.97. Freeman, the 1965 Golden West champion, was third in 44.41. In an interview given shortly before his death in 2008 following a battle with cancer, James paid homage to his rival’s competitive spirit. “My whole strategy was based on time,” James said. “My plan was to run 43.9. I went over it three times a day in my mind. I found out that Lee’s mindset was different. He always visualized beating the competition. His approach prevailed.” In Mexico City, the three American medalists wore black berets to the medal ceremony but removed them before the playing of the national anthem. Two days later, Matthews joined Freeman, James and Evans in shattering the 4 x 400 record with a gold-medal run of 2:56.16. Their relay mark wouldn’t be bettered for 24 years. “I think I did a really good job (in Mexico City) with all that pressure on me,” Evans said. “We ran fast because we were highly motivated.” Evans continued on after Mexico City, winning national titles in 1969 and 1972. He made the 1972 Olympic team in the relay but wasn’t able to claim a surefire third gold medal. Matthews and Wayne Collett were kicked off the team after their own medal-stand protest following the open 400, and John Smith had a hamstring injury. The U.S. didn’t have enough healthy runners to field a team, forcing Evans to watch the final from the stands. “What happened in Munich was like getting a divorce,” Evans said. “I couldn’t talk about it for five years. Two Olympic gold medals is nice, but three would have been better.” Evans ran on the short-lived pro track circuit in the mid-1970s before embarking on a nomadic coaching career that took him from San Jose State to several African countries and a head position at South Alabama. In a recent phone interview, Evans said he was planning to move to Stockton, where he plans to start a youth sports academy featuring track and swimming. “It’s a chance for me to give back,” Evans said.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Division I Men's Outdoor Track Championships Records Book
    DIVISION I MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORDS BOOK 2020 Championship 2 History 2 All-Time Team Results 30 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP The 2020 championship was not contested due to the COVID-19 pandemic. HISTORY TEAM RESULTS (Note: No meet held in 1924.) †Indicates fraction of a point. *Unofficial champion. Year Champion Coach Points Runner-Up Points Host or Site 1921 Illinois Harry Gill 20¼ Notre Dame 16¾ Chicago 1922 California Walter Christie 28½ Penn St. 19½ Chicago 1923 Michigan Stephen Farrell 29½ Mississippi St. 16 Chicago 1925 *Stanford R.L. Templeton 31† Chicago 1926 *Southern California Dean Cromwell 27† Chicago 1927 *Illinois Harry Gill 35† Chicago 1928 Stanford R.L. Templeton 72 Ohio St. 31 Chicago 1929 Ohio St. Frank Castleman 50 Washington 42 Chicago 22 1930 Southern California Dean Cromwell 55 ⁄70 Washington 40 Chicago 1 1 1931 Southern California Dean Cromwell 77 ⁄7 Ohio St. 31 ⁄7 Chicago 1932 Indiana Billy Hayes 56 Ohio St. 49¾ Chicago 1933 LSU Bernie Moore 58 Southern California 54 Chicago 7 1934 Stanford R.L. Templeton 63 Southern California 54 ⁄20 Southern California 1935 Southern California Dean Cromwell 741/5 Ohio St. 401/5 California 1936 Southern California Dean Cromwell 103⅓ Ohio St. 73 Chicago 1937 Southern California Dean Cromwell 62 Stanford 50 California 1938 Southern California Dean Cromwell 67¾ Stanford 38 Minnesota 1939 Southern California Dean Cromwell 86 Stanford 44¾ Southern California 1940 Southern California Dean Cromwell 47 Stanford 28⅔ Minnesota 1941 Southern California Dean Cromwell 81½ Indiana 50 Stanford 1 1942 Southern California Dean Cromwell 85½ Ohio St. 44 ⁄5 Nebraska 1943 Southern California Dean Cromwell 46 California 39 Northwestern 1944 Illinois Leo Johnson 79 Notre Dame 43 Marquette 3 1945 Navy E.J.
    [Show full text]
  • Don Quarrie Come Smith
    PAG. 10 / sport 1'Unit a / giovedi 5 agosto 1971 Mondiale eguagliato A colloquio con Chiappella nel ritiro di Castelvecchio Pascoli Napoli: sicurezza in difesa 19" 8 SUI200 M.! e tante speranze in Enzo arrampicarci fin sulla vetta Abbondan/a e Martella due contiasti con il pallone Co Dal nostro in via to D di una di queste belle mon veri scugniz/i anche se i s munque sia Sormani che CASTELVECCHIO PASC 4 tagne dalla quale si domina condo e di Pescara) si sono Zurlini h abbiamo vlsti coire Non ( stata una impress gran parte della I ucchesia 11 presentati al lavoio con un rt e 5iltaie come tutti gli al iaciJe laggiungeie il rami tag t tolare dell albergo per evi ritardo di cirta un oia non tn Ad assistere alia prepare gio del Napoli Castelvecchio tdie ai giocaton di spostarsi si erano sveghati < Sewn mt ?ione sotto un sole cocente Richieste e offerte Don Quarrie Pastoll e un simpatico paesino ogni giorno a Baiga ha fatto ster — si sono giustificat con tera anche il general mana appollaiato fra 1 monti delli costrune un campo regola Chiappella ma qui senibra ger a\ / Angelini che ha lo Garfagnana e per scovare la mentare sulla vetta di una di esseie in un altro mondo ingrato compito di trattare 1 comiliva — che ha preso al montagna dove ippunto ab non HI sente volaie una mo premi di ingaggio ( ^)icfte ie per i «reingaggi loggio al «Ciocco » un com biamo trovato tutti i giocatoil sea » ri abbiamo discusso tutti in plesbo di tutto rilievo moder azzurn dispombili (mancava Cosi mentre le due giovani steme di questo aunwio pio nissimo sistemato
    [Show full text]
  • 'Race' for Equality
    American Journalism, 26:2, 99-121 Copyright © 2009, American Journalism Historians Association A ‘Race’ for Equality: Print Media Coverage of the 1968 Olympic Protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos By Jason Peterson During the Summer Olympics in 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos made history. Although they won the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter dash, their athletic accom- plishments were overshadowed by their silent protest during the medal ceremony. Images of Smith and Carlos each holding up a single, closed, gloved fist have become iconic reminders of the Civil Rights movement. What met the two men after their protest was criticism from the press, primarily sportswriters. This article examines media coverage of the protest and its aftermath, and looks at how reporters dealt with Smith’s and Carlos’s political and racial statement within the context of the overall coverage of the Olympic Games. n the night of October 16, 1968, at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, U.S. sprinter Tommie Smith set a world record for the 200-meter dash by finishing O 1 in 19.8 seconds. The gold medal winner celebrated in a joyous embrace of fellow Olympian, college team- Jason Peterson is an mate, and good friend, John Carlos, who won instructor of journalism the bronze medal. However, Smith and Carlos at Berry College and a had something other than athletic accolades or Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern the spoils of victory on their minds. In the same Mississippi, Box 299, year the Beatles topped the charts with the lyr- Rome, GA 30149.
    [Show full text]
  • National Winner History of Sport Ashwin Ramanathan
    National winner History of sport Ashwin ramanathan Christ church grammar school Peter Norman: a defining moment Peter Norman: A Defining Moment Ashwin Ramanathan A defining moment in history is an act that stands out as a significant event in the shaping of our world. A single moment that will change the lives of future generations forever. One that is remembered for the lasting effects that it brought upon us. Effects that are embedded into our memories. What Peter Norman did and stood for as a person deserves to be treated as defining, yet in his own country, this is little acknowledged. Even at the time many of his fellow countrymen were not aware of the significance of the moment for the world and for Norman. Eric Pearce, the Australian flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony and member of the hockey team commented, “The black power salute caused a ripple with the Australian athletes in the village but was soon forgotten. It was only regarded very briefly by myself and other competitors.” (Pearce, 2011) He became a part of a historical force that revolutionized the lives of millions of men, women and children but this came at a great personal cost. His actions on the 16th October 1968 were not only a part of a defining historical moment when politics, sport and race converged, but were also set to define his future: a future that was characterized by rejection and personal, physical and mental decline. On 16th October 1968 at the XIX Summer Olympic Games in Mexico, Tommie Smith won the gold medal, and John Carlos the bronze, in the 200m final.
    [Show full text]
  • ZANCADAS;0] Ria Del Deporte, Sale La Pena Narraro
    •‘‘,‘ .“s’. ‘:‘- UNA GIGAT&A COBERTURA PARA Alié lismo;0] EL ESTADIO DE MUNICH DE 1912;1] MLÍN ICII, 21. (Alti!). — Se han aprobado hoy los pro yectos para cubrir el [.‘,iadio Olímpico de las competiciones de 1972, en forma que ‘,t’ asemejará a una gigantesca tienda de campaña. La Asociación de ( nistrucciones Olimpicas, bajo la pre sidencia del mio isu’u dc Hacienda, Franz Josef Strauss, anuo ció en una confereacta de Prensa ‘que la cubierta en forma de El fabuloso atletismo norteamericano ha dado que recurrir a La foto-finish. Tods los finalistas carpa,. que se extenderá sobre parte de las tribunas del Es un gran aldabonazo en la tarde del 20 de junio, hicieron el mismo tiempo de lO s., clasificándose tadio Olímpico y los terrenos adyacentes, será el mayor teja cuando. en el curso de los Campeonatos de la tras de Grecner, Jimmy 1-fines, Lennox Miller, Ro do de Europa. A, A. U., celebrados en Sacramento, ha marcado ge.rilambuck (el negro francés que fue invitado es El Comité organizador aprobó el proyecto del arquitecto un nuevo récord mundial logi’ado por tres hombres, pecialmente a estos Campeonatos), Ronnie Ray Guentser, Behnisch y decidió que el tejado deberít ser de tres hombres de color que no han atendido las lla Smith y Mel Pender, un ligero’ material sintético, madas de Tomm.ie Smith para abstenerse de actuar Róger Bambuck, que una semana atrás hizo El tejado ,cubrirá un área de 60.5()0 metros cuadrados y JUnto COfl sus compatriotas blancos en los Juegos lO”l.
    [Show full text]
  • Tommie Smith Speaks on Racism
    Tommie Smith speaks by Dan Knoedler • Tommie Smith, world record whole world," Smith said. saw you in the Olympics." It on racism holder in the 200-meter dash and one of the Black athletes "The question is: Was it the was worth it just to hear that." who protested at the 1968 black glove that insulted Olympic Games in Mexico City America, or was it what the Smith, who was born in a one- by raising a black-gloved fist glove meant?" room shack in Texas, said he during the playing of the wanted to make it through National Anthem , spoke " I wasn't at the Olympics just eighth grade "so I could beat Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the to run my race, " he said. "I my dad, because he only had a Kirby Lounge. was there to do a job. The sixth-grade education." Black athletes got together Smith, whose appearance was before the games started and But his talent as a runner was the first of a number of decided to something for the · recognized, so he went on to scheduled activities during Black cause. You know what I high school and college. Black Emphasis Week (Feb. did ." 13- 15), said his protest in 1968 When he got back from the was against "the ostracism of 1968 Olympics, Smith found he the black athlete all over the The protest had other affects either had to drop school world." also, Smith noted. The Los without a degree or get a job to Angeles Rams drafted him in pay for it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Following Lists Have Been Drawn out from the "ATFS Annual 1970"
    The following lists have been drawn out from the "ATFS Annual 1970". Revisited and adjourned from: Paco Ascorbe (ESP), Jacques Carmelli (FRA), György Csiki (HUN), Basilio Fuentes (CUB), Paul Jenes (AUS), Zbigniew Jonik (POL); Nejat Kök (TUR), Winfried Kramer (GER), Børre Lilloe (NOR), Tomas Magnusson (SUI), Ljubisa Gajic (SER), Richard Hymans (GBR), Gabriele Manfredini (ITA), Peter Matthews (GBR), Fletcher McEwen (AUS), Lionel Peters (GBR), Enzo Rivis (ITA), Milan Skočovský, (CZE), Tadeusz Wolejko (POL) Coordinator: Pino Mappa (ITA) Special thanks to Roberto Quercetani who made his library available for the purposes of this work. 1969 WORLD MEN LIST 100 YARDS (91.44 metres) John Carlos USA 05 Jun 45 193/85 9.1 0.1 (1) WCR Fresno 10 May Earl Harris USA 20 Jul 48 183/80 9.2 (1) Stillwater 22 Apr Mike Goodrich USA 17 May 48 175/70 9.2 1.4 (1)h Drake R Des Moines 25 Apr Carlos 9.2 1.0 (1) MSR Walnut 26 Apr Andy Hopkins USA 19 Oct 49 178/85 9.2 0.9 (1) Houston 30 May Robert Taylor USA 14 Sep 48 185/82 9.2 0.9 (2) Houston 30 May Taylor 9.2 (1) Houston 14 Jun Carlos 9.2 1.2 (1) NCAA Knoxville 20 Jun Lennox Miller JAM 08 Oct 46 183/79 9.2 1.2 (2) NCAA Knoxville 20 Jun Doug Hawken USA 31 Jan 49 183/77 9.2 0.7 (1) Sacramento 21 Jun Eddie Hart USA 24 Apr 49 178/70 9.2 0.7 (2) Sacramento 21 Jun Hopkins 9.2 0.7 (3) Sacramento 21 Jun Mike Fray JAM 23 Sep 47 189/88 A9.3 (1) El Paso 05 Apr Mel Gray USA 28 Sep 48 175/79 9.3 0.5 (1)r1 Kans R Lawrence 19 Apr Charlie Greene USA 21 Mar 45 173/69 9.3 nv (1)r2 Kans R Lawrence 19 Apr Gray 9.3 nv (2)r2 Kans R
    [Show full text]
  • Avery Brundage – the Man Who Would Be King
    Avery Brundage – The Man Who Would Be King By Anthony J. Wall Avery Brundage hardworking newspaper boy who made good.1 A strong wearing the man and exceptional athlete, Brundage was also blessed US Olympic uniform with sharp intelligence and became an athlete­scholar in 1912. At the in the classic mold. Garnering an engineering degree at Stockholm Olympics the University of Illinois, he went on to represent the USA he came sixth in the in the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympics, pentathlon, but after competing against the legendary Jim Thorpe.2 the disqualification Brundage was not only smart and athletic, but was of Jim Thorpe he also a striver. He pursued wealth throughout his life. moved up a place. Contrary to the standards to which he later would hold In the decathlon he Olympic athletes, the young Brundage actively sought was so disappointed to parlay his athletic achievements into wealth. Using by his performances his notoriety as an Olympic athlete to gain financing,3 that he did not start Brundage built a respectable fortune in the rough­and– in the final event the tumble Chicago construction industry during the boom 1500 m. As a result years of the 1920s.4 He solidified his new­found wealth he was not ranked. and social status by marrying a wealthy Chicago socialite, Elizabeth Dunlap, in 1927. Capitalizing on his Olympic, Photo: Avery Brundage Collection business and social achievements, in 1929 he secured the prestigious presidency of the American Olympic Committee (AOC).5 As quickly as Brundage’s construction business grew in the boom years of the Twenties, it just as quickly went bust with the Great Crash of 1929.
    [Show full text]
  • Amid Gold Medals, Raised Black Fists Jeremy Larner and David Wolf Life Magazine November 1, 1968
    Amid Gold Medals, Raised Black Fists Jeremy Larner and David Wolf Life magazine November 1, 1968 When you stop to think about it, the small group of black track stars who organized the “Olympic Project for Human Rights” have got quite a lot done in less than a year. Led by Harry Edwards, a professor at San Jose State, they helped keep South Africa out of the Games. They humbled the prestigious New York Athletic club by publicizing its discriminatory membership policies and persuading an impressive number of top athletes to bypass the club’s famed annual meet. And they’ve ignited a lasting racial consciousness among the previously uncommitted black American college athletes. The most prominent spokesmen of the original group were Tommie Smith, Lee Evans and John Carlos, all of San Jose State. They are not separatists. They do not believe in violence. They are dedicated to ending what they see as exploitation of black athletes and, in the process, gaining dignity and equality for all black people. By the time this summer’s Olympic trials came around, the goals of the “Olympic Project” had engaged the sympathies of most of the black track men who made the Olympic squad. A clear majority wanted to express their feelings in some way at Mexico City. But they disagreed on methods of protest. All of them—even Smith, Evans and Carlos—are competitors and individualists by nature and political activists only sporadically. They never did get together on a unified course of action for the Games. They didn’t even test the support among their white teammates.
    [Show full text]
  • Olympic Project for Human Rights Button, Worn by Activist Athletes in the 1968 Olympic Games, Originally Called for a Boycott of the 1968 Olympic Games
    Fists of Freedom: An Olympic Story Not Taught in School By Dave Zirin It has been almost 44 years since Tommie Smith and John Carlos took the medal stand following the 200-meter dash at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and created what must be considered the most enduring, riveting image in the history of either sports or protest. But while the image has stood the test of time, the struggle that led to that moment has been cast aside. PHOTO FAR-LEFT: Olympic Project for Human Rights button, worn by activist athletes in the 1968 Olympic games, originally called for a boycott of the 1968 Olympic Games. PHOTO RIGHT: This iconic photo appears in many U.S. history textbooks, stripped of the story of the planned boycott and demands, creating the appearance of a solitary act of defiance. When mentioned at all in U.S. history textbooks, the famous photo appears with almost no context. For example, Pearson/Prentice Hall’s United States History places the photo opposite a short three-paragraph section, “Young Leaders Call for Black Power.” The photo’s caption says simply that “…U.S. athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists in protest against discrimination.” The media—and school curricula—fail to address the context that produced Smith and Carlos’ famous gesture of resistance: It was the product of what was called “The Revolt of the Black Athlete.” Amateur black athletes formed OPHR, the Olympic Project for Human Rights, to organize an African American boycott of the 1968 Olympic Games. OPHR, its lead organizer, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • 1974 Age Records
    TRACK AGE RECORDS NEWS 1974 TRACK & FIELD NEWS, the popular bible of the sport for 21 years, brings you news and features 18 times a year, including twice a month during the February-July peak season. m THE EXCITING NEWS of the track scene comes to you as it happens, with in-depth coverage by the world's most knowledgeable staff of track reporters and correspondents. A WEALTH OF HUMAN INTEREST FEATURES involving your favor­ ite track figures will be found in each issue. This gives you a close look at those who are making the news: how they do it and why, their reactions, comments, and feelings. DOZENS OF ACTION PHOTOS are contained in each copy, recap­ turing the thrills of competition and taking you closer still to the happenings on the track. STATISTICAL STUDIES, U.S. AND WORLD LISTS AND RANKINGS, articles on technique and training, quotable quotes, special col­ umns, and much more lively reading complement the news and the personality and opinion pieces to give the fan more informa­ tion and material of interest than he'll find anywhere else. THE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE of men's track extends from the Compiled by: preps to the Olympics, indoor and outdoor events, cross country, U.S. and foreign, and other special areas. You'll get all the major news of your favorite sport. Jack Shepard SUBSCRIPTION: $9.00 per year, USA; $10.00 foreign. We also offer track books, films, tours, jewelry, and other merchandise & equipment. Write for our Wally Donovan free T&F Market Place catalog. TRACK & FIELD NEWS * Box 296 * Los Altos, Calif.
    [Show full text]
  • The Legacy- 1968 Summer Olympic Games, Mexico City
    The Legacy- 1968 Summer Olympic Games, Mexico City During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, United States track athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos were awarded medals for their athletic efforts. However, the great athletic feat would soon be shadowed by one of the most memorable moments in the American Civil Rights Movement. Tommie Smith and John Carlos would protest the poor treatment of African-American people in the United States and stood to empower the African American community. This is a great symbol for the community of San Jose State University. Tommie Smith and John Carlos were both students at this prestigious university and showed San Jose State University students of the present and the future that students can make a difference on the global stage. Tommie Smith 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist, 200 Meter Race Born on June 6, 1944 in Clarksville, Texas, as an infant Tommie Smith barely survived a serious bout with pneumonia. But survive he did, to become a distinguished chapter of African American history. His college career at San Jose State University was highlighted with many achievements. He started breaking world records in track as a sophomore and did not stop until he tied or broken thirteen. With talent and encouragement to excel, Tommie Smith was propelled into human rights spokesmanship long before it became a popular cause. With his concern for the plight of African-Americans and others at home and abroad, Tommie made a commitment to dedicate his life to champion the cause of African-Americans. Having become a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1978, and serving on the coaching staff of the 1995 World Indoor Championship team Barcelona, Spain he continues to expand his horizons of accomplishments.
    [Show full text]